Fletcher First Baptist marks 175th year

The Rev. Roy Waldoup pastors Fletcher First Baptist Church, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary.

Mike Dirks / Times-News

By AMY B. MCCRAWTimes-News Correspondent

Published: Saturday, November 9, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 8, 2013 at 4:32 p.m.

Fletcher First Baptist Church has seen its share of change over the past 175 years.

Four different buildings served as sanctuaries for the congregation as it grew from a small group of people seeking a new church in 1838 to a membership of more than 700 today. And more than 30 pastors have led the church over the years.

But one thing that hasn't changed at the church off Cane Creek Road is its commitment to traditional values and worship.

"We haven't changed with the times," said the Rev. Roy Waldroup, who has served as the church's pastor for the past 20 years. "We stay the way we are."

The church is celebrating its 175th anniversary this month with a revival. The church also held a special service featuring singing last week to mark the anniversary.

The revival will begin on Nov. 17 with Waldroup's son, Darrin, leading services at 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. The revival will continue on Nov. 18-Nov. 20 with services at 7 p.m.

Darrin Waldroup is the pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Spruce Pine and was an associate pastor at Fletcher First Baptist with his father for a number of years. He was also ordained at the Fletcher church.

He said he is excited to be leading the revival at his father's church.

"It's always precious to be able to go home," he said. "It's a joy to me. I'm looking forward to it."

Darrin Waldroup said the revival does not have a theme but he plans to "contend for the faith" each night.

Roy Waldroup said he is excited to have his son return for the revival.

"He's really good and not just because he's my son," Waldroup said.

Waldroup called the 175th anniversary a major milestone for the church and the perfect time to celebrate its success.

"It seemed the 175th would be the thing to do," he said.

Fletcher First Baptist Church was organized as Salem Baptist Church and held its first service on Nov. 17, 1838. Most of the charter members of the new church came from Cane Creek Baptist Church in Fairview. Salem Baptist was built just north of where Fletcher First Baptist stands today and was led by the Rev. Bruce Bailey.

That first service in 1838 was on a Saturday rather than a Sunday. Waldroup said it seemed odd to him for the congregation to hold the first service in a new church on a Saturday. He could only guess that the time it took people to travel from their homes in Fairview to the new church might have played a role in the decision.

"There were no cars in those days," he said. "It's hard to visualize what they went through in those days to get from place to place."

The church's second building was constructed in 1897 on Old Airport Road. It is now a private home.

In 1926, a third church was built on Cane Creek Road, and the church's name was changed to Fletcher Baptist Church. The church added an educational building, remodeled the auditorium, bought new furniture and again changed its name — this time to Fletcher First Baptist Church — in 1956.

In more recent years, Fletcher First Baptist bought additional land on its north, west and east sides to build its fourth sanctuary, which has room for 920 people. This church building was dedicated in 2004.

Waldroup said the church also has room for additional parking and could increase the number of services it holds if the church continues to grow.

"We built it for the future," he said.

Waldroup, 70, is the 34th pastor to serve the church. He has led the congregation since 1993 and has no plans to retire.

"I have no immediate plans to step down," he said. "It's just day to day."

The love the members of the church have for one another and their unchanging faith makes the church special place, Waldroup said.

"We stay the old time way," he said.

For more information about the church and its anniversary activities, visit www.fletcherfirstbaptist.com or call 687-1031.

<p>Fletcher First Baptist Church has seen its share of change over the past 175 years.</p><p>Four different buildings served as sanctuaries for the congregation as it grew from a small group of people seeking a new church in 1838 to a membership of more than 700 today. And more than 30 pastors have led the church over the years.</p><p>But one thing that hasn't changed at the church off Cane Creek Road is its commitment to traditional values and worship.</p><p>"We haven't changed with the times," said the Rev. Roy Waldroup, who has served as the church's pastor for the past 20 years. "We stay the way we are."</p><p>The church is celebrating its 175th anniversary this month with a revival. The church also held a special service featuring singing last week to mark the anniversary.</p><p>The revival will begin on Nov. 17 with Waldroup's son, Darrin, leading services at 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. The revival will continue on Nov. 18-Nov. 20 with services at 7 p.m.</p><p>Darrin Waldroup is the pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Spruce Pine and was an associate pastor at Fletcher First Baptist with his father for a number of years. He was also ordained at the Fletcher church.</p><p>He said he is excited to be leading the revival at his father's church.</p><p>"It's always precious to be able to go home," he said. "It's a joy to me. I'm looking forward to it."</p><p>Darrin Waldroup said the revival does not have a theme but he plans to "contend for the faith" each night.</p><p>Roy Waldroup said he is excited to have his son return for the revival.</p><p>"He's really good and not just because he's my son," Waldroup said.</p><p>Waldroup called the 175th anniversary a major milestone for the church and the perfect time to celebrate its success.</p><p>"It seemed the 175th would be the thing to do," he said.</p><p>Fletcher First Baptist Church was organized as Salem Baptist Church and held its first service on Nov. 17, 1838. Most of the charter members of the new church came from Cane Creek Baptist Church in Fairview. Salem Baptist was built just north of where Fletcher First Baptist stands today and was led by the Rev. Bruce Bailey.</p><p>That first service in 1838 was on a Saturday rather than a Sunday. Waldroup said it seemed odd to him for the congregation to hold the first service in a new church on a Saturday. He could only guess that the time it took people to travel from their homes in Fairview to the new church might have played a role in the decision.</p><p>"There were no cars in those days," he said. "It's hard to visualize what they went through in those days to get from place to place."</p><p>The church's second building was constructed in 1897 on Old Airport Road. It is now a private home.</p><p>In 1926, a third church was built on Cane Creek Road, and the church's name was changed to Fletcher Baptist Church. The church added an educational building, remodeled the auditorium, bought new furniture and again changed its name — this time to Fletcher First Baptist Church — in 1956.</p><p>In more recent years, Fletcher First Baptist bought additional land on its north, west and east sides to build its fourth sanctuary, which has room for 920 people. This church building was dedicated in 2004.</p><p>Waldroup said the church also has room for additional parking and could increase the number of services it holds if the church continues to grow.</p><p>"We built it for the future," he said.</p><p>Waldroup, 70, is the 34th pastor to serve the church. He has led the congregation since 1993 and has no plans to retire. </p><p>"I have no immediate plans to step down," he said. "It's just day to day."</p><p>The love the members of the church have for one another and their unchanging faith makes the church special place, Waldroup said.</p><p>"We stay the old time way," he said.</p><p>For more information about the church and its anniversary activities, visit www.fletcherfirstbaptist.com or call 687-1031.</p>